Spark - Very peppy and a VFM proposition

Exterior My Spark just completed 3.5 years and it has been a good no nonsense experience.  Exterior styling is still contemporary after these years and car still looks very good. Very well-made and should stand up to years without any issues.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Space is OK for a car of this size, technically smaller than a i10, but comparatively more spacious inside. Luggage areas is also OK. 3 people in back seat can fit but only just. However the doors still close with a re-assuring thud and no sweaks or irritating sound till now. My car has all black interiors (not beige) which I have lightened with wooden panel stickers, which looks very good.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine is the best thing about this car. Numerous time I have received compliments from parking attendants at hotels who could not figure out that the engine was running when I handed them the car. They kept turning the key..it was so silent. Same happened when I took the car for smoke test. The person kept saying start the engine when clamping the electrodes, when it was already running and hood was up. So after 3 years I take it as a compliment. Pickup is excellent and have good fun speeding out of the stop light when signal turns green. Very peppy and in lower gears will compete with any car. Gearbox is quite smooth. Fuel economy is a little downer, with giving me at max 13km/lt in city traffic (used Scan tool, hence quite sure of this). Highway I have got exactly 16.9km/hr. This is comparatively less than current hatch/cars in the market, but given the joy it gives me in riding and pickup, I am happy with it.

Ride Quality & Handling One word --- excellent. Car size is such that it squeezes through spaces where a i10/Vista would find difficult. Steering is very accurate and I have not yet have any incidents in the last 3.5 years when I squeeze out of these spots. Good suspension however ground clearance could have been better.

Final Words Quite satisfied with the car and GM's 3 year warranty & cash less offer. Did not have to spend any money on repair or service during the offer. However people who take the offer should note that 3 years is calculated from date of registration and not the date on which you got the car. I was not careful so had to pay for the last service.

Service centres in Kolkata are good to bad. Three years and I have experienced most of them so quite sure which I will stick to. A lot of difference can be made by the centre you go to, hence make sure you pick the right one.

Areas of improvement Spark is a VFM vehicle. It is true that the resale values are not good and does not have the service coverage like Maruti/Hyundai. But quality is very good and better than any Maruti vehicle. I say this after experience comparable cars like Wagon R and below. However I do get the logic when people go for a safe bet.

Very peppy engine, no niggles, accurate steeringMileage, seating